Inking mechanism for printing presses



Nov. 13, 1934. A. KLUGE ET AL 1,980,968

INKING' MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 30, 1952 13 Sheets-Sheet l gwvemtow Abel Kluge and Eneval Kluge Nov. 13, 1934. A. KLUGE ET AL 1,980,968

INKINGMECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 30, 1932 13 Shets-Sheet 2 gwowntow Abel Kluge and Enevcll Klus'e Nov. 13, 1934. A. KLUGE ET AL I 1,980,968

INKING' MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 50, 1932 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 Abel Kluge and Eneval K age oz Nov. 13, 1934. A.'KLUGE ET AL INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec: 50, 1952 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 gmnlfow Abel K111 "e and. Enevd'l Kilge Nov. 13, 1934. A. KLUGE El AL INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINT ING PiESSES Fild Dec. 30, 1932 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 grwemtow Abel. Kluge and Bneval Kluge Nov. 13, 1934. A. KLUGE tr AL 1,980,968

INKING MECHANISM FQR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 30 1932 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fig. 7

awe/1411014 Abel Kluge and. Ene'vol Kluge Noy. 13, 1934. A. KLUGE ET AL 1,980,968

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 30, 1932 r l5 Sheets-Sheet '7 gmantow Abel Klu. 'e and Enevol K ug'e Nov. 13, 1934;

A. KLQGE ET AL 1,980,968

' IRKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 30, 1932 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 gwoenfow Abel Klu. e and Enevcnl K uge Nov. 13, 1934. A. KLUGE ET'AL 'INKING'MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 30, 1932 13 Sheets-Sheet 10' gwva'ntow d n a oO u 03 MK m Tw 1 a Nov. 13, 1934. v A. KLUGE Er'AL INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES 15 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Dec. 30, 1932 Zlwwntow 1 and Abel Kluge Enevql Kluge Nov. 13, 1934. A. KLUGEV ET AL H 1,980,968

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 50. 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 12 Nov. 13, 1934. A. KLUGE ET AL INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed Dec. 30, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet l3 Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNl'TE SATS ATT OFFICE INK ENG MECHANESIVE FOR PRINTING PRESSES 25 Claims. (C1. 101--342) Our invention relates to improvements in inking mechanisms for platen printing presses of the Gordon type, an object of the invention being to supply a simple, durable and dependable mechanism for platen presses, which is capable of appropriately inking any of the numerous forms encountered in the general run of platen press job work, especially forms requiring inking in diiferent quantities at different sections thereof, as by the method disclosed in our copending application, filed December 30, 1932, Serial Number 649,570, and which embodies characteristics facilitating the handling and operation of such presses and the production thereby of uniform printing.

More particularly, it is an object of our invention to provide a simplified fountain operating mechanism through which a step-by-step rotational movement is imparted to the fountain roll and also to provide-in such mechanism for regulating the extent of movement of said roll at each step thereof and, further, to provide in such mechanism for discontinuing the rotational movement of the fountain roll when the press is thrown off and contact between platen and form thereby prevented.

Another object of the invention is to provide rollers for taking ink from the fountain roll and distributing it on the inking disk and to provide means for moving said rollers whereby they are caused to ride upon the fountain roll and to turn with said roll when it is turned.

An additional object of the invention is to provide for the application of ink to the disk of a press in different quantities in different zones thereof in correspondence with the different zonal requirements of the form and in controlling the angular movement ofthe disk, whereby such movement is sufficient to break up streaks, but not suiiicient to carry a relatively heavily inked zone of said disk into line with a relatively light zone of the form.

A. further object of the invention is to provide improved means for imparting to the inking disk a step-by-step rotational movement in which the extent of of said disk; at each step thereof, is definitely controlled.

Another object of the invention resides in providing for the adjustment of such disk turning means. whereby the step-by-step movements of the inking disk may be varied in extent, at will.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for automatically discontinuing the turning movements of the inking disk when the press is thrown off.

A feature of the invention resides in providing the fountain roll with bearer driving rolls which are arranged in continuation of the bearer extensions of the press and upon which the truck rolls of the ink distributing rollers ride during the inking of said rollers by said fountain roll.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for disengaging the ink distributing rollers from the inking disk during the latter part of the movement of said rollers in their return 651 to the fountain roll, whereby the time in which the disk may be turned before being subsequently engaged by the form rollers, is increased.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a simple mechanism for axially shifting the inking disk manually to lower said disk from and return it to inking position.

A further object of the invention is to associate with such disk shifting mechanism, means for lowering the disk automatically when the press is thrown off and for elevating said disk when the press is thrown on, another object being to further associate with such mechanism, means of adjustment for accurately bringing the surface of the inking disk into the inking plane of the form rollers and distributing rollers.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear in the following description, the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view of a portion of a printing press and of a construction, embodying our invention, applied to said press.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken as on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, the relatively movable parts being shown in different relative positions.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken as on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view in detail of the supporting frame for the inking disk andfor associated mechanisms for turning and elevating said disk.

Fig. 7 is asectional view taken as on '7-7 of Fig. 5.

8 is a detail sectional view taken as on the line 88 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view taken as on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

the line Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, the parts being shown in a different relative position.

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional View taken as on the line 11-11 of Fig. 7.

Figs. 12, 13, and 14 are views similar to Fig. 2 showing an alternate form of disk turning mechanism and also illustrating other structural parts of the device in a number of different relative positions.

Fig. 15 is a rear elevational view, partly broken away, illustrating the structure shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional view taken as on the line 16-16 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken as on the line 17-17 of Fig. 14 and showing in detail various parts of the ink fountain and of the mechanism for turning the fountain roll;

Fig. 18 is a detail sectional view taken as on the line 18-18 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a detail sectional View taken as on the line 19-19 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 20 is a perspective view in detail showing the mechanism associated with the back-shaft of the press and with the adjacent frame member for reciprocating the single link for operating the fountain mechanism.

Fig. 21 is a sectional View in detail illustrating principally theparts which go to make up the structure shown in Fig. 20, said view being taken as on the line 21-21 of'Fig. 13.

1 Fig. 22 is a detail perspective view, the same illustrating that portion of the press back-shaft shown in Figs. 20 and 21 and showing further the collar rockably mounted on said back-shaft and the latch-tongue on said collar and the cam on'said back-shaft for tripping said latch-tongue.

Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken as on the line 23-23 of. Fig. 21, the parts shown being in the relation occupied when the press is closed and the back-shaft thrown .into position to cause the taking of an impression.

Fig. 24 is similar to Fig. 23, the roller frame member being shown in the position occupied thereby when the press is open. I Fig. 25 corresponds with Fig. 23 and Fig. 26 corresponds with Fig. 24, except that in Figs. 25 and 26, the back-shaft is thrown into posi tion toprevent the taking of an impression.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views, we have illustrated a structure embodying our invention, some features of said in vention being shown in different forms. The platen job press of the so-called Gordon type, being of familiar construction, we have not deemed it necessary to illustrate the press in its entirety, but have shown only those parts of a press with which the parts of our improved structure are directly associated.

The parts of the platen press of familiar construction include a bed 30 upon which the usual form carrying chase'31 is mounted. This bed, rockably supported on legs 32, has a back-shaft or throw-off shaft 33, journaled in ears 34, said back-shaft having the customary eccentric studs 35 at its ends to which side arms 36, 37 are connected. An oscillatory roller frame of usual design consists of side members 38, '39, and a backbar or tie 40, the side members 38, 39 being rockably mounted on the back-shaft 33. Spring retracted rods 41, mounted in the roller frame side members 38, 39 carry saddles 42 in which composition form rollers 43 are mounted. These form rollers travel, as usual, back and forth over i a form 44 on the bed and over an inking d k 45,

said form rollers being provided with truck rolls 46 which ride bearers 47 at either side of the bed 30 and bearer extensions 48 at either side of the inking disk 45. The roller frame is oscillated in the conventional manner upon the rocking of the bed 30, by means of a link 49 (Fig. 1) connected at one end thereof to the roller frame side member 39 and at its other end to a stationary part of the press. Through a lever 50 (Fig. 1) on the back-shaft 33 and a link 51 attached to said lever, the back-shaft is turned to alter the axial relation of its eccentric studs 35 with respect to its own axis and thus throw off or throw on" the impression, the form on the bed, in the former instance, being prevented from contacting with the, platen, while in the latter instance the form is caused to contact with the platen.

Departing from the conventional, our novel design, now to be described, includes a frame 52 (Fig. 6) which is in the form of and hereinafter referred to as a yoke. This yoke consists of a head member 53, legs 54 and feet 55, the latter being secured to the ears 34 of the bed 30. Formed integrally with said head member 53 is a bearing 56 in which a journal 57, formed axially of the disk 45, is slidably and revolubly received.

Extending rearwardly from the head member 53 of the yoke 52 are spaced fountainbrackets 53, each thereof being formed with an outwardly extending branch 59 fitted at its extremity with an adjustable bearing 60 for the bearer extension 48 at the corresponding side of the machine. At the extremities of said fountain brackets 58 are downturned ears 61 upon which an ink fountain 62 is mounted.

The ink fountain 62 includes a back wall 63 to which end walls 64 are secured, said back wall being provided with ears 65 matching with and secured to the ears 61 of the fountain brackets 58 by means of screws 66. These screws 66 are threaded in the ears 65 and have a limited sliding movement in elongated apertures 67 in the cars 61 (Fig. 5) to facilitate in accurately positioning the fountain. A fountain roll 68, extending from one end wall 64 to the other, has stub shafts 69 at its ends journaled in said end walls 64. A blade 70, co-extensive with the fountain roll 68, serves in conjunction with said roll and the end walls 64, to complete the trough in which ink is contained. This blade 70 has a backrib J 71 at its upper margin, said rib being removably clamped to the back wall 63 by means of clamping screws 72 threaded in said rib and fitted in slots 73 in said back wall 63. Blade adjusting screws '74, threaded through the back wall 63, bear at their inner ends against an abutment bar 75 which, in turn, bears against the lower marginal portion of the blade 70. These adjusting screws 74 in conjunction with said bar 75,

stationuthe lower edge of the blade 70 more or less closely to the fountain roll 63, as may be desired. For yieldingly holding the abutment bar 75 in position to be engaged by the adjust-' ing screws ,74, we provide at each end of said bar a resilient clip 76. Each clip is welded or otherwise permanently secured at one of its ends to said bar and removably fastened at the other of its ends to the back-wall 63 by means of a screw. Thus mounted, the abutment bar 75 may be removed from the fountain and the screws 74 turned against the blade 76. Mechanism for driving the fountain roll 68 includes a sprocket wheel 77 on one of the stub-shafts 69 of said roll 68 (Figs. 17 and 18). This sprocket wheel 77 driving pawl 84 may be meshes with a similar sprocket wheel 78 keyed to a sleeve 79- revolubly mounted on a stub-shaft 80 issuing from the back-wall 63 of the fountain. Also keyed to the sleeve 79 is a ratchet wheel 81 and loosely mounted on said sleeve is a bellcrank 82, on arm 83 thereof carrying a pawl 84 for engagement with the ratchet wheel 81, the other arm 85 being connected with a link 86 for rocking the bell crank 82 on said sleeve. The pawl 84 operates to turn the ratchet wheel 81, step-by-step, in a counter-clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 18, such rotation of said ratchet being imparted through the sprocket wheel 78, to the sprocket wheel '77 on the fountain roll 68 with the result that said roll 68 is turned in the proper direction to feed ink from the fountain. To prevent the turning of the fountain roll in the reverse direction, an anti-backing pawl 87 is provided. Said pawl 87 is mounted on a bracket 88 issuing from the fountain back-wall 63 and engages said ratchet wheel 81 (Fig. 18). A hand wheel 39, formed integrally with the sleeve '79 provides for the turning of the fountain roll 68, at will. A shroud 90, by means of which the rendered more or less effective or wholly ineffective, is loosely mounted on the sleeve 79 adjacent to the ratchet wheel 81. This shroud includes an arcuate flange 91 overreaching the ratchet wheel 81, the nose 92 of said flange being adapted to engage the lower side of said pawl, in various angular positions of said shroud, and cause the pawl at each thrust thereof to take less than the maximum number of teeth of said ratchet or none at all. Thus,

the step-like rotational movement of the fountain roll 68, is readily regulated by simple angular adjustments of the shroud 90. For maintaining the shroud 90 in different positions of ad justment on the sleeve 79, we provide a spring pressed plunger 93, the same being mounted on the fountain bracket 88 and arranged to bear against a notched portion 94 of the arcuate flange 91. A handle 95 issuing from the shroud 90 affords means for turning said shroud against the latching action of the spring pressed plunger 93, said handle being adapted to engage the lower side of the fountain bracket 88 and limit the turning movement of the shroud in the opposite direction.

Exceedingly simple and reliable mechanism is provided to reciprocate the link 36 and thereby turn the fountain roll 68, such mechanism being adapted to be rendered inoperative automatically, when the press is thrown off. Loosely mounted on one end of the back-shaft 33 (Figs. 20, 21 and 22) between the side arm 36 and side member 38 of the roller frame, is a collar 97 having an arm 98 thereon to which the lower end of the fountain operating link 86 is connected. A latch f or clutch tongue 99, pivoted between lugs 100 on the collar 97, projects, at its free end,'beyond said lugs, said free end of said tongue being normally lodged in a radial clutch groove 101 formed in the hub 102 of said roller frame member 38.

;-- With said tongue 99 thus caught in the groove 101 of said hub 102, the collar 97 is caused to rock on the back-shaft 33 in unison with the roller frame member 38, such rocking movement of said collar serving to reciprocate the fountain operating link 86. An expansion spring 103, encircling a headed screw 104 threaded in the collar 9'? extending t3. rough a hole 105 in the latch tongue 99, is interposed between said tongue and the head of said screw 10% to depress the tongue and yieldingly hold it in position with the free end thereof within said latch groove 101. Fixed to the back-shaft 33, between the collar 97 and the hub 102 of the roller frame member 38, is a cam 106 (Fig. 22) which is provided for the purpose of tilting the tongue 99 and lifting the free end thereof out of the latch groove 101 in said hub 102. When the press is thrown on and the back-shaft 33 angularly disposed as shown in Figs. 23 and 24, the cam 106 is ineffective, the latch tongue 99 failing, in such event, to come within range of said cam. But, when the press is thrown off and the backshaft angularly positioned as shown in Figs. 25 and 26, the cam 106 occupies a position wherein it is engaged by a trip lug 107 depending from the tongue 99. The engagement of this trip lug 107 with said cam 106 causes the latch tongue 99 to be tilted and the free end thereof lifted out of the groove 101, whereupon the collar 97 is disengaged from the roller frame member 38 and the reciprocation of the fountain operating link 86 discontinued. This disengagement of the collar 97 from the roller frame member 38 will occur at a time when the collar has been turned back into or near its retracted position, as indicated in Figs. 23, 25 and 26. Until said collar is again re-engaged with said frame member 38 it will remain in such retracted position, being thus held by the link 86, the weight of which, coupled with the weight of the arm 85 of the bell crank 82, retains the other arm 83 of said bell crank against the limit stop 108 (Fig. 18) on the fountain bracket 88. When the backshaft 33 is turned into the position shown in Figs. 23 and 24 to throw on the press, the cam 106 will be removed from position sustaining the latch-tongue 99, the free end of which will then ride upon the peripheral surface 109 (Fig. of the hub 102 of the frame member 38, until the groove 101 in said hub registers with and receives said end of said tongue. An abutment 110 for the latch-tongue 99, issuing from the hub 102 adjacent the latch-groove 101 in said hub, limits the counter-clockwise rotational movement (Fig. 20) of the collar 9'7. with respect to the roller frame member 38. Thus limiting the relative movement between collar 9'? and frame member 38, in the direction indicated, there is no possibility of the collar 97 being accidentally turned to carry the latch-tongue 99 past position of registration with the latch-groove 101 into position out of its operative range. This provision guards against the breakage of parts that otherwise might occur were the latchtongue 99 to be allowed to be shifted from its operative range. Attention is directed to Fig. and particularly to the relation between the latch-tongue 99 and latch-groove 101. Here, it will be noted that the latch-groove 101 in the hub 102 does not quite register with the latchtongue 99 in the fully retracted position of the collar 9''! on the back-shaft 33. Normally, the roller frame member 38 would be swung back far enough to bring the groove 101 into registration with the tongue 99, but, as shown, the backshaft 33 is turned into position in which the press is thrown off. In taking this position, the rotation of the back-shaft 33, operating through the eccentric studs and side arms 36, 37 causes the bed to be shifted slightly rearwardly. With the member 39 of the roller frame connected through the link 49 (Fig. 1) with a stationary part of the press, said rearward shifting movement of the bed imparts a slight rotational' movement to said roller frame about the sition riding the fountain roll. 555

back-shaft' 33 with the result that the latchgroove 101 fails, as shown, to register with the latch-tongue 99 in the retracted position of the collar 97. This failure of groove 101 to register with the tongue 99 is merely incidental, it being readily discernible that proper registration'of the groove 101 with the tongue 99 will normally occur, when the back-shaft 33 is turned back into normal position, as shown in Figs. 23 and 24, to throw on the press.

Ink is fed from the fountain roll 68 of the inking fountain 62 to the inking disk 45 and distributed on said disk by means of distributing rollers 111 which are mounted and operate as follows: Two oscillating arms 112 are keyed on a shaft 113 journaled in bearings 114 secured to the cars 34 of the bed 30. At the extremity of each of these arms 112 is a guide 115 for a rod 116. These rods 116 carry saddles 117 in which the shafts 118 of the distributing rollers 111 are journaled, said rods being retracted by means of springs 119. Under the action of said springs, truck rolls 120 on the distributing roller shafts 118 are caused, in the cycle of movement of said distributing rolls, to ride the bearer extensions 48 and bearer rolls 121 secured to the fountain roll studs 69, as the oscillating arms 112 swing back and forth. The mechanism employed for oscillating the distributing roller arms 112 includes a rocker arm 122 issuing from one of said arms 112 and also includes a cam 123 which is secured to the tie bar 40 of the roller frame. The rocker arm 122 is provided at the extremity thereof with'a cam follower 124 and the cam 123 is formed with a way 125 receiving said follower '124. This cam way 125 has an upper curved portion concentrically disposed with respect to the axis of the back shaft 33 upon which the roller frame swings and has a lower portion of reversed curvature. When the upper curved part of the cam 123 is in play, the arms 112 are kept in'position (Figs. 2, 3 13) wherein the distributing rollers 111 ride the fountain roll 68 and the truck rolls 120 on said rollers ride the bearer rolls 121 on said fountain roll. But, when the lower curved part of the cam 123 is in play, the arms 112 are swung through a cycle during which the distributing rollers 111 are moved from the fountain r01168 downwardly across the inking disk 45 and back again to said fountain roll (Figs. 3, "5, 12 and 14). 'Themechanism, previously described, for driving the fountain roll 68 is operated when the distributing rollers 111 are in po- In the feeding of ink from the fountain roll 68 to the distributing rollers 111, the retracting force of the springs 119 is met by the truck rolls-120 which bear upon the fountain bearer rolls 121. With these truck rollslZG thus engaging the bearer rolls 121, the former are driven by the latter, the distributing rollers 111, in turn, being driven by said truck rolls. This arrangement provides for the turning of thedistributing rollers 111 with thefountain' roller 68, without slippage or distortion of said distributing rollers, despite the fact that the distributing rollers only lightly contact with the fountain roll 68. A rider roll 126, having its shaft 127 journaled at the ends thereof in the saddles 117, contacts and distributes ink on the distributing rollers 111.

During the final stage of movement of the distributing rollers 111'in their return to the fountain roll 68, said distributing rollers 111 are removed from contact with the inking disk '45.

This is accomplished by the formation of humps 128 at the upper ends of the bearer extensions 48, said ends of said extensions being formed with tongues 129 (Fig. 18) received within peripheral grooves 130 formed in the bearer rolls 121, said tongue and groove construction making for continuity between the bearing surfaces of the bearer extensions 48 and bearer rolls 121 over which the truck rolls 120 travel. The purpose of employing the humps 128 on the bearer extensions 48 and thereby discontinuing the engagement of the distributing rollers 111 with the inking disk 45 before the truck rolls 120 reach the bearer rolls 121 is to enlarge the available interval of time in which rotational movement may be imparted to the inking disk 45. This interval of time being limited to that period wherein the distributing rollers 111 and also the form rollers 43 are clear of the inking disk 45, the distributing rollers 111 are, as above explained, caused to leave the disk before reaching its upper extremity and thus amply enlarge the time for the practical operation of the disk turning mechanism which will now be described.

The journal 57 of the inking disk 45 has a worm wheel 131 (Fig. 5) keyed thereto and held in place thereon by means of a lock-nut 132 fitted on a headed screw 133 threaded into said journal axially thereof. Meshing with said worm wheel 131, is a driving worm 134 (Fig. 8), the same being keyed to a worm shaft 135 journaled in bearings 136 on lugs 137 depending from the head member 53 of the yoke 52. Also keyed to the worm shaft 135 is a ratchet wheel 138, the rotational move: ment of which is imparted to the inking disk 45 through saidshaft 135, worm 134 and worm wheel 131. A pawl 139 for driving the ratchet wheel 138, is mounted on an arm 140 issuing from a hub 141 rockably supported on a sleeve-like extension 142 of the ratchet wheel 138. A second arm 143 issuing from the hub 141, diametrically opposite said first arm 140 is connected through a link 144 with a forwardly extending arm 145 of a bell-crank 146. This bell-crank 146 is rockably supported on a shaft 147 mounted at its ends on the legs 54 of the yoke 52, and has a rearwardly extending arm 148 fitted with a follower 149 coacting with a cam 150 rockably supported on the back-shaft 33 and rocked through an extension 151 secured to the tie-bar 40 of the oscillatory form roller frame. A spring pressed plunger rod 152 (Figs. 3 and 4), acting against the arm 145 of the bell-crank 146, keeps the follower 149 in engagement with the cam surface of the cam 150 and, as said cam permits, rocks said bellcrank 146 in a direction to retract the pawl 139. Said cam 150 operates in opposition to said plunger rod 152 to impart a working thrust to said pawl 139 and for the purpose of effecting such result is formed with a spiral. or working portion 153 between uniform high and low portions 154 and 155 both of which uniform portions are concentric with the axis of the backeshaft 33. With the said high and low portions 154 and 155 of the cam 150 designed and related to the spiral portion 153, as shown, the working thrust of the pawl 139'begins just after the distributing rollers 111 leave the disk 45 and ends just before the form rollers 43 reach said disk. In the driving train between the ratchet 138 anddisk 45, the worm 134 and worm wheel 131 coact to secure the disk 45 against rotation, except as may be effected by the pawl 139 during its active throw. This coaction of worm and worm wheel results in a controlled movement of the disk 45 in which no over throw can occur at the end of the working thrust of said pawl. The extent of the throw of the pawl 139 is constant, but said pawl may be rendered ineffective throughout the whole or any fractional part of its working thrust, whereby the inking disk may be held against rotational movement entirely or may be caused to turn through a given number of degrees, such as may be elected within the range of angular movement of said disk. For variably regulating the throw of the disk 45, a shroud 156 (Figs. 8 and 9) is provided for the ratchet wheel 138, said shroud being angularly adjustable about the ratchet wheel 138 so that the pawl 139, upon each working thrust thereof may be made to take one tooth of said ratchet wheel 138 or two or more teeth thereof as may be desired. This shroud 156 consists of an annular body portion formed with a segmental guard flange 157 sheathing a number of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 138. Said annular body portion of the shroud 156 is fitted to turn on a reduced portion 158 of a shroud mounting 159 supported on the wormshaft 135 between the ratchet wheel 138 and the adjacent worm-shaft bearing 136. A keeper-ring 160 (Fig. 8) fastened to the shroud mounting 159 by screws, retains the shroud 156 in place on said reduced portion 158 of said mounting, while a keeper-disk 161 fastened by a screw 162 to the end of the worm-shaft 135 retains the ratchet wheel 138 in place on said shaft and also retains the hub 141 in place on the extension sleeve 142 of said ratchet wheel. A connection between the shroud 156 and its mounting 159 for securing the former in various angular relations with respect to the latter includes an ear 163 formed on said mounting, and a segmental rib 164 formed on the periphery of the body of the shroud 156. The rib 164 has an arcuate slot 165 therein through which a headed clamping screw 166 is passed, said screw being threaded in said ear 163. As will be readily understood, this clamping screw 166 is loosened and again tightened after the shroud 156 has been angularly adjusted to suit the occasion. For example, if it is desired that the maximum turn be imparted to the wormshaft 135 the shroud 156 is set angularly of the shroud mounting 159 so that the flange 157 of said shroud will not sheath any of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 138 within the range of the pawl 139. If, however, it is desired that the worm-shaft 135 be turned less than its fullest extent at each thrust of the pawl 139, the shroud 156 will be adjusted on the mounting 159 so that a greater or lesser number of the teeth of the ratchet wheel overrun by the pawl 139 will be sheathed by the flange 157 of the shroud and the pawl 139 caused to ride up onto the periphery of said flange 157 over the curved nose portion 167 thereof. A leaf spring 163 engaging the butt of the pawl 139 and operating thereon to insure the proper functioning thereof is fastened to an anchoring lug 169 cast integrally with the arm 140 on which said pawl is pivoted.

The controlled rotational movement of the disk 45 afforded in the step-by-step turning of said disk, without overthrow, and in the regulation of the extent of the throw of said disk at each turn thereof, adapts the present structure to the numerous inking requirements met in the general run of job press printing. In cases where form-wide uniformity of inking is desired, the shroud 156 is adjusted so that the inking disk 45 will turn through its maximum extent at each step, and the fountain screws 74 are adjusted, not necessarily with exacting care, to provide for the reasonably uniform inking of the fountain roll 68 lengthwise thereof. In other cases, the forms employed may have relatively heavy and light portions that properly should be inked more or less heavily along the different zones thereof and, in such cases, the width of the dead areas between the several zones of a form required will vary more or less. The narrower these areas and the wider the variation in the quantities of ink required in adjacent zones of a form, the more exacting the operator will be in the adjustment of the fountain screws 74 and the more he will restrict the rotational'movement of the inking disk 45 at each turn thereof. In any event, uniformity of ink distribution in satisface tory degree will result, the angular movement of the inking disk 45 being sufficientto break up transverse streaks, but not sufficient to carry a relatively heavily inked zone of said disk into line with a relatively light zone of the form.' In the construction disclosed, no stresses are imposed upon the form rollers 43 and no disturbance of ink occurs on said rollers or on'the inking disk 45 as the result of angular movement of said disk with respect to said rollers, the reason being that the rotational movement of the disk 45 is definitely arrested at each turn before the rollers 43 come into contact with said disk.

In addition to the angular adjustment of the shroud 156 on its mounting. 159 to cause the pawl 139 to take a greater or lesser number of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 1338 upon each working thrust of said pawl .andthereby effect a ro-' tational movement of the inking disk 45 ofv greater or lesser angularity, we provide for automatically turning the shroud mounting 159 when the press thrown off and thus cause the shroud to render the pawl 139 entirely ineffective. Referring particularly to Figs. 3, 7 and 9, it will be seen that the shroud mounting 159 is formed with an arm 170 having a link 171 connected atone of its ends thereto, which link is connected at its other end to an anchoring clip 172 secured to the back-shaft 33. With said back-shaft in its normal relation for effecting the taking of impresions, the shroud mounting 159 is secured against rotational movement but when the back-shaft- 33 is turned to throw off the press, said mounting is turned by the link 17 1 and the shroud 156 thereby shifted to keep the pawl 139 from engaging any of the teeth of the ratchet wheel 138. W hen the back-shaft 33 is rocked back into its normal position to resume the printing operation, the link 171 returns the mounting 159 and the shroud 156 thereon to normal position and the disk 45 is again turned at each cycle of the press, in accordance with the adjustment then prevailing between said shroud and mounting. In thus'depriving the inking disk 45 of rotational movements when the press is thrown off, the variously inked zones of said disk are kept in line with the corresponding zones of the form until 'the' printing operation is resumed.

As hereinbefore indicated, the journal 57 of the inking disk 45 is axially slidable in the bearing 56 (Fig. 7). This sliding movement of the disk journal, while necessarily limited due to the interrneshing of the worm wheel 131 and worm 134, permits of the dropping of the inking disk sufficiently to lower the inking surface thereof beneath the inking plane of the distributing rollers 111 and form rollers 43. Forraising and lowering the inking disk and sustaining the same in its elevated and depressed positions, we provide a supporting cam-bar 173 upon which the head,

of the screw 133 bears. This cam-bar 173 is received near its ends between the branches of bifurcated bearings 174 (Fig. 11) formed at the M lower extremities of the depending lugs 137, said cam-bar being slidably supported on shafts 175 journaled in said bifurcated bearings. Said cambar has a high portion, a w portion and an inclined portion between the high and low portions, m said portions of the cam-bar being adapted to be 16 brought into play by the shifting of said cam-bar in the direction of its length. A shifting lever 176, pivotally suspended from the head member 53 of the yoke 52 is arranged with one end thereof dis- M posed in a notch 177 in thecam-bar 173. The '15" other end of said lever 176'is provided with a hand-grip 178 conveniently accessible to an operator attending the press. In swinging said shifting lever 176 in either direction, the cambar 173 is moved endwise; If the movement of Q6 said cam-bar is to the right of the position shown in Fig. 7, the inking disk 45 will descend as the head' of the screw 133 follows the inclined portion of the cam-bar 173 from the high portion thereof to the low portion. A reverse swing imz'5' -parted to the shifting lever 176 will return the cam-bar 173 to starting position causing the disk 45 to be lifted into its elevated position as the head of the screw 133 follows the inclined portion of the cam-bar 173 from the low portion go thereof to the high portion. A spring pressed plunger 179 mounted in one of the depending lugs 137 bears against the high portion of the cam-bar 1'73 and in extreme positions of said A cam-bar yieldingly catches in depressions 180 3-5- -formed therein. In addition to holding the cambar 173 in place with disk elevated or lowered as the case may be, the coaction of the plunger 179 with the depressions 180 in the cam-bar apprises the operator when he has swung the shifting lever 176 far enough in a given direction, to accom-' plish the purpose intended. To compensate for.

wear between the head of the screw 133 and the cam-bar 173 and for the sake of accuracy in initially adjusting the inking surface of the'disk 4,5 with respect to the inking plane of the distributing rollers 111 and form rollers 43, the screw 133 is turned relative to the journal 57 as may be required. Said screw 133 may also be adjusted for appropriately regulating the pressure -of the ink distributing rollers and form rollers upon the inking disk 45.

The manual dropping of the inking disk 45 is advantageous for several reasons. The form rollers 43 and the distributing rollers 111 may be readily cleansed when either thereof is in position over said disk. Also with said rollers in such position or in positions remote from the inking disk, said disk itself may be readily cleaned. And, further, the provision for so easily discon- 6'o"--tinuing the contact between inking disk and inking rollers encourages such practice and thus not only prolongs the life of the inking rollers, but also minimizes the imperfections in printing that might otherwise be caused by allowing the ink- -ingrollers to stand in contact with the inking plate.

Associated with the said means for manually lowering the inking disk 45 is a mechanism for ,lowering said disk automatically when the back- 'm-shaft 33 isturned to throw off the press. Said mechanism constitutes as a part thereof the shafts 1'75 in the bifurcated bearings 174. The portions of said shafts 175 upon which the cam- .bar173 rests are reduced to form eccentrics 181. Arms 182 depending from the forward ends of the shafts 175 are connected nieansof a linkor tie 183 which keeps the shafts 175 always in the same angular relation. One of said arms 182 is provided with a follower 184 (Fig. 11') projecting into a groove 185 in a block 136 slidable on guide rods 187 issuing from one of the legs 54 of the yoke 52. The block 186, in turn, is fitted with a follower 188 occupying position within the groove 189 of a helical cam 190 secured to the back shaft 33. Upon turning the back-shaft 33 to throw off the press, the helical cam 190 shifts the block 186 to the right of the position seen in Fig. 7. In being thus moved,

said block swings the arms 182, causing the shafts 175 to be turned and the reduced eccentric portions 181 thereof to be shifted to lower the supporting cam-bar 173. This lowering of said cam-bar 173 results in-the lowering of the inking disk 45 from its elevated inking position. When the back-shaft 33 is turned back to normal position to throw on the press, the helical cam 190 operates through the block 186, arms 182, shafts 175 and cam-bar 173 to elevate the disk 45 and reposition the same in normal inking position. This automatic lowering of the inking disk 45 keeps said disk out of contact with the form rollers 43 and distributing rollers 111 when the printing operation is interrupted, thereby eliminating unnecessary wear and preventing any disturbance of the established zonal inking of the disk 45. v

The proper functioning of the mechanisms for automatically arresting the turningmovements of: the inking disk 45 and for automatically lowering said disk presupposes the employment of throw-off means for the back-shaft 33 so constructed and arranged as to hold said back-shaft against rotational movements during the normal operation of the press. Such throw-off means may be of the construction shown in our Patent 140. 19.59.289 granted May 15, 1934, or of any other construction suited to the purpose.

In Figs. 12 to 15 and 16, we have shown an alternate form of mechanism for turning the inking disk 45 through various definite extents as may be deemed advisable for the various jobs of printing that may be undertaken, said mechanism, as in the form first described, being adapted to lock the inking disk against rotation at the end of each measured throw thereof. In employing said alternate form of disk turning mechanism, the form of the yoke 52 remains substantially unchanged, the cam-bar 173 and shifting lever 176 therefor being retained; The inking disk 45 is constructed with a depending drum 191 formed with an annular groove 192 (Fig. 15) at the outer periphery thereof. A resilient band 193, fitted in said groove 192 and adapted to releasably grip the annular flange 191 provides a medium through which the inking disk 45 is turned step-by-step and firmly held against fur ther rotation at the end of each step. Saidband 193 is constructed sothat by its own re-' siliency it will expand and release itself from gripping engagement with the drum 191. Loosely mounted on the shaft 147 in the yoke 52 is an arm 194 and a bell-crank 195. Thefree extremity of said arm 194 constitutes an upstanding jaw member 196, a companion jaw member 197 being formed on a lever 198 pivoted on a screw 199 threaded in said arm 194. The lower end of said lever 198 is connected through a link 200" with the arm 201' of the bell-crank 195, the other arm 202 of said bell-crank being supplied with a follower 203 which rides the cam surface of cam 150. Acting to keep said follower 203 in engagement with said cam surface is a helical compression spring 204, said spring being interposed between an abutment 205 cast on the yoke 52 and an abutment 206 on the arm 201 of the bell-crank 195. Said latter abutment 206 consists of a sleeve mounted to rock on a screw 207 threaded in said arm 201. The spring 204 is held operatively disposed between the two abutments 205 and 206 by means of a keeper-rod 208 extending through said spring 204 axially thereof, one end of said rod 208 being secured to the abutment 206 and the other end of said rod slidably supported in the abutment 205. Secured to the yoke 52 is a limit stop 209 faced with a resilient buffer 210 against which the arm 194 impinges in its forward throw. On said arm 194 is another limit stop 211, the same consisting of a screw threaded in an ear 212 formed integrally with said arm, said screw being so disposed that it will be engaged by the lower end of the lever 1.98 and, by reason of such engagement, limit the opening swing of the jaw member 197 at the upper end of said lever. Studs 213 and 214, one at one extremity and one at the other extremity of the band 193, extend outwardly from said band in parallel relation. A helical tension spring 215 is fastened at one end thereof to the stud 213, the other end thereof being fastened to an adjustable retaining screw 216 through a swiveling connection 217 (Fig. 16). This screw 215, threaded in a lug 218 on one of the fountain brackets 58, is provided with a finger piece 219 by which it can be turned to increase or diminish the tension of said spring 215 and is also provided with a. lock-nut 220 adapted to be turned against said lug 218. The two studs 213 and 214 received between the jaw members 196 and 197, are free to be raised and lowered between said jaw members when the inking disk 45 is caused to be shifted through the medium of the cam-bar 173. In giving attention to the action of the hand 193 and band operating jaws 196 and 197 it will. be noted that as the follower roll 203 overrides the leading part of the spiral or working portion 153 of the cam 150 (Fig. 12), the arm 194 is swung forwardly. In such forward movement of said. arm, the spring 215 is stretched and, as the tension thereof is increased, the lever 98is swung on its pivot 199, through the link 200, resulting in the closing of the jaw 197 on the stud 214 and the consequent closing of the band 193 about the drum 191. When said band 193 grips the drum 191, the disk 45 is caused to turn until the arm 194 strikes the buffer 210 of the limit stop 209. At this stage, a small part of the working portion 153 of the cam 150 remains to be traversed by the follower 203, such part of said cam portion causing a final and increased gripping force to be exerted by the jaws 196 and 197 upon the studs 213 and 214. This final gripping action of said jaws, occasioned by arresting the forward throw of the arm 194 effectually overcomes the momentum of the 45. stopping the same abruptly and substantially at the instant said arm engages the stop 209. Upon the return throw of the cam 150 (Fig. 16), the spring 294 comes into play as the follower 203 again encounters the working portion 153 of said cam. Said spring 204, acting through the bell-crank 195 and link 200, causes the lever 198 to be swung against the limit stop 211 on the arm 194. As said lever 198 approaches said stop 211, the grip of the jaws 196 and 197 upon the studs 213 and 214 is released and the band 193 thereby allowed to free itself from and to be turned on the drum 191. Upon the engagement of said lever 198 with said stop 211, the arm 194 is caused to be swung rearwardly and returned to starting position (Fig. 14). During this return throw of the arm 194, the spring 215 turns the band 193 on the drum 191 to starting position keeping the stud 213 in contact with the jaw 196 on said arm. By applying force to the stud 213 in resetting he hand 193 the binding action between said band and the drum 191 is effectually minimized. However, to overcome any possible tendency of the inking disk 45 to turn with the band 193, as the latter is shifted back into position for a new grip upon the drum 191, we provide a springpressed anti-backing pawl 221 (Fig. 15) which is mounted on the yoke 52 in engagement with teeth 222 formed on the lower edge of the drum 191. To increase or diminish the throw of the disk 45, the operator increases or diminishes the tension of the spring 215 by turning the screw 216 through the finger piece 219 thereon. In tightening the spring 215, the jaws 196 and 197 cause the band 193 to grip the drum 191 earlier in the forward throw of the arm 194, while in loosening said spring 215, said jaws cause said band to grip said drum later in the forward throw of said arm. Thus, it will be understood that upon the forward throw of the arm 194, the band 193 acts sooner or later to turn the disk 45, according to the tension of the spring 215. The turning of the disk 45 commences (Fig. 12) just after the distributing rollers 111 leave the disk 45 and is completed (Fig. 13) just before the form rollers' 43 arrive at the disk. While thedisk 45 remains stationary in a newly acquired position, the form rollers 43 pass upwardly thereover and return, the follower 203 at such time riding the uniform high portion 154 of the cam 150. After the band 193 has been reset (Fig. 14) and before the disk 45 is again turned by said band, the distributing rollers 111 pass downwardly over the disk 45 and back again, the follower-roll 203 at such time j riding the uniform low portion 155 of said cam 150.

Changes in the specific form of our invention. as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of ,what is claimed without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a platen press having a revoluble inking disk, ink distributing rollers and form rollers alternately movable to and fro onto and across said disk and. back again away therefrom, means for imparting a turning movement to said at that stage in the cycle of the press when distributing rollers and form rollers both out of contact with the and means for arresting such movement of said disk at said stage in the press cycle.

2. In a platen printing press, a revolubly mounted inking disk and means for turning said disk through a step of definite extent upon each cycle of the press regardless of the speed thereof, said means being adjustable to vary at will the extent of movement of said disk at each step thereof.

3. In a platen printing press having an inking shaft, meansfor imparting rocking movement. 

